Part of Avon and Somerset LRF’s role is to ensure that a co-ordinated response is given to the media, and thus the wider public, in the event of a major incident or crisis, with the overarching vision being that if all the various agencies involved speak with a consistent voice, it will help engender public confidence and reassurance.

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (CCA) states that Category 1 responders should communicate with the public, based on the belief that a well-informed public is better able to respond to an emergency, and therefore the impact of the emergency on the community is minimised.

The duties to assess risks and prepare plans are followed by a further duty on Category 1 responders to arrange for the publication of these documents. The duty is not necessarily to arrange to publish the whole of a risk assessment or a complete plan, but should be to consider publicising information on the basis of whether such publications will assist in dealing with the emergency. Research suggests that if the public is better informed about the risks and the actions to be taken in the event of an emergency, the emergency response will be improved.

Keeping the public informed before, during and after an emergency is regarded as an essential activity within the CCA. The CCA includes warning and informing as two distinct legal duties for responders. The first is that the public be made aware of the risk of emergencies, and of how Category 1 responders are prepared to deal with them if they occur. The second is that the public be warned and provided with information and advice (informed) as necessary at the time of the emergency.

Although all Category 1 Responders have a statutory responsibility to undertake these functions, in the event of an Emergency this function may pass to the Avon and Somerset Local Resilience Forum (LRF) or Strategic Coordinating Group (SCG) to implement this strategy either in whole or in part.

The document covers a range of issues, including specific information on;

• Category 1 and 2 responder’s responsibilities
• How the W&I Strategy is used in combination with other LRF emergency plans
• Public information requirements
• Freedom of Information Act
• Audiences
• Messages
• Training and Exercising